Hi Rona...I was diagnosed with asthma at 12 years old. I am now 36 and still have it, but I do not have as many complications now as I did in my teens. I lived with my grandparents who were very cold natured and hardly ever ran the air conditioner. I can remember many summer nights just laying in bed sweating and having trouble breathing. I love and respect my grandparents very much and understand that elderly people do seem to get cold easy, so I understood their discomfort with ac. However, when I moved out on my own at about 20 years old, and still today 16 years later, I have always kept my home at around 68 to 72 degrees, and I find that I breath so much better and have way less asthma problems. I am spoiled now, and even though the utility bill may hit close to $400 a month in the summer, I just could not imagine life without my ac now.

Oh yes daddy2x, I know exactly what you mean. That cool sweet air is such a soothing relief. My doc says the cool air shrinks the swollen membranes. I understand AC can be drying but a fan, if directed right on you, causes dehydration. I like to be comfortable because it lowers my stress levels.

Hi Rona,
I am also an asthmatic, and can tell you that I breath far better in the AC than in the heat, especially if it is humid as well. I know that one reason that some docs advise against ACis because the filters tend to trap lots of dust, pollens, etc, just the kind of stuff that sends us into an attack. If we are diligent about keeping our filters clean, and run the AC just enough to take the humidity out of the air, we can probably all breath better, without our docs having a fit! All the best to you, Sheri

Hi Rona,
I am also an asthmatic, and can tell you that I breath far better in the AC than in the heat, especially if it is humid as well. I know that one reason that some docs advise against ACis because the filters tend to trap lots of dust, pollens, etc, just the kind of stuff that sends us into an attack. If we are diligent about keeping our filters clean, and run the AC just enough to take the humidity out of the air, we can probably all breath better, without our docs having a fit! All the best to you, Sheri

Hi Rona,
I am also an asthmatic, and can tell you that I breath far better in the AC than in the heat, especially if it is humid as well. I know that one reason that some docs advise against ACis because the filters tend to trap lots of dust, pollens, etc, just the kind of stuff that sends us into an attack. If we are diligent about keeping our filters clean, and run the AC just enough to take the humidity out of the air, we can probably all breath better, without our docs having a fit! All the best to you, Sheri

Hi Rona,
I am also an asthmatic, and can tell you that I breath far better in the AC than in the heat, especially if it is humid as well. I know that one reason that some docs advise against ACis because the filters tend to trap lots of dust, pollens, etc, just the kind of stuff that sends us into an attack. If we are diligent about keeping our filters clean, and run the AC just enough to take the humidity out of the air, we can probably all breath better, without our docs having a fit! All the best to you, Sheri

Hi Rona,
I am also an asthmatic, and can tell you that I breath far better in the AC than in the heat, especially if it is humid as well. I know that one reason that some docs advise against ACis because the filters tend to trap lots of dust, pollens, etc, just the kind of stuff that sends us into an attack. If we are diligent about keeping our filters clean, and run the AC just enough to take the humidity out of the air, we can probably all breath better, without our docs having a fit! All the best to you, Sheri

Hi Rona,
I am also an asthmatic, and can tell you that I breath far better in the AC than in the heat, especially if it is humid as well. I know that one reason that some docs advise against ACis because the filters tend to trap lots of dust, pollens, etc, just the kind of stuff that sends us into an attack. If we are diligent about keeping our filters clean, and run the AC just enough to take the humidity out of the air, we can probably all breath better, without our docs having a fit! All the best to you, Sheri

Yes, everyone is saying the same thing to me but my doctor knows I'm highly sensitive to temperature changes. For example, last weekend it was in the mid 80s and now it is in the low 60s. I haven't even gone outside and my breathing is worse today. This is my concern..it is the transition not just breathing the cooler air.

Still, I do think that it would be great to be homebound inside an air conditioned place. I have terrible trouble breathing warm air. In fact, I have an intolerance to it.

I'm tending to agree but first want to return to work and breathe the air inside the clinic...it is air conditioned. I'm still collecting information.

Thanks daddy2x, Ohana and sadsheri for your comments. Wish I come move effortlessly into an air conditioned place and report back how much better I feel. Never happens that way though. I'm faced with some physical barriers and financial ones, so I don't know how soon this would occur anyway.

Hi Rona,
I've had asthma since I was 10 years old from what I can remember. I had other related problems prior to age 10.

I was told by my doc to use AC. I've noticed that I have much more energy in a cooler inviroment.

I am able to adjust to hot weather too. Once I stayed in Arizona for 6 weeks. Over time I adjusted and enjoyed going for long walks and hikes. I would come back and go swimming.

I used a cooling unit in my bedroom and this allowed me to sleep at night.

I live in California too. I am unable to sleep in my apartment without AC. When I lived in a 2 bed unit they had Central. On the same property I moved to a 1 bedroom and it is not central.

So there is an AC in the living room and it doesn't reach the bedroom.

It is the law for compliance when a doctor writes a note on an RX pad for a complex to comply with a residents needs although they don't have to pay for the change.

There are small but effective AC's that are not expensive either to fit in a window or the type on wheeles that also has an exhaust going out of the window.

The one on wheels is much easier to instal.

I found a used one on www.craigslist.org and people often find them for free either on craigslist or freecycle.

The first one I bought was for $65 on craigslist and normally sold for $500.00 so I really got a great deal.

I can now deal with more changes simply because I don't become distressed and inturn I do better with my breathing.

Hi Rona, both my boys and I have asthma and yes we notice a difference with AC. We don't have it set lower than 74 so that its not too cold coming in from outside, but comfortable when sleeping and less humid. AC's can be affordable and even just fetting a window one for your bedroom maybe helpful. (this is what my sister-in-law does in her aprtment then she has a fan by the door so the cool air moves through her apartment.

good luck

In addition to a low level of AC; I use fans. I don't have any fans pointed towards me. I have a fan in every room including the bathroom. This keeps my apartment much cooler so I don't have a high AC bill. I leave the fans on most of the time, uless it's to chilly at night.

Update: Well, besides my friends and family disagreeing, all of you seem to disagree with my pulmMD. Thinking again about moving to a place with a/c again. There is no way to modify this apartment due to the window situation. Thanks for all of your comments....it took a community to realize what I need to do. THANKS.

If you move to an AC apartment and you don't like the way the AC makes you feel, just turn it off.

Your body will tell you.

I have had asthma since I was a child its much better now than it use to be. I have always found that dry air set me off. I hated winter because everyone would use heaters and I would suffocate. I live in the tropics and I can say that aircon really saves me during summer. If its to cold then its not good but I dont see a problem with it.